Platform-scale.



J. D. FRYE.

PLATFORM SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED APR-27. 1915.

1 1 8 1 ,442. Patented May 2, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Attorneys J. D. FRYE.

PLATFORM SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.27.1915.

1 1,181,442. Patented May 2,1916.

Witnesses mfififii276 Inventor W by y I r I o m Mg Attorneys JAMES DAVIDFRYE, OF ST. J'OHNSBURY, VERMONT.

PLATFORM-SCALE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1916.

Application filed April 27, 1915. Serial No. 24,272.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES DAVID Fern, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. J ohnsbury, in the county of Caledonia and State ofVermont, have invented a new and useful Platform-Scale, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The present invention appertains to scales, and aims to provide a noveland improved platform scale.

The object of the invention is the provision of a platform scaleembodying novel and improved features of construction, whereby thescales will be thoroughly eflicient in operation, and in order that theutility of the scale will be enhanced.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can-be made within thescope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereinFigure 1 is a plan view of the improved scale, the platform beingremoved, and portions being broken away. Figs. 2 and 3 are sectionalviews taken on the lines 22 and 3-3, respectively, of Fig. 1. Fig. 4; isa view similar to Fig. 3, illustrating a modification. Fig. 5 is aperspective view of one of the main levers of the scale.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a rectangular frame 1,within the upper edge portion of which the platform 2 is mounted forvertical movement, the working parts of the scale being confined withinthe frame 1 and below the platform, and the the platform beingsecuredupon a pair of longitudinal stringers 3 arranged adjacent andparallel with the sides of the frame.

A pair of depending supports 4: is secured to the side edges of each endportion of each stringer 3, and the lower ends of the depending supports4 are provided notches 5. The two pairs of supports at each end of hestructure are arranged adjacent the respective end ofthe frame 1, and apair of transverse rods 6 adjacent the ends of the frame are engaged inthe notches or bearing portions 5 of the respective sets of supports 4.The platform 2 is thus supported by the rods 6 which are carried by themain levers, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

A pa r of main levers 7 are employed, the

same being disposed longitudinally in aline' ment, or in thelongitudinal median line of the structure between the stringers 3. Theinner or adjacent ends of the levers 7 are arranged at the center of thestructure, and the remote or outer ends of the levers 7 are providedwith horizontal forks 8 which are fulcrumed to the frame 1. In order tofulcrum the main levers 7 within the frame, a pair of cross bars 9 ismounted within the frame, the terminals of the cross bars 9 beingsecured to the sides of the frame 1, and the cross bars being arrangedbetween but close adjacent the supports 4 of the platform. Two concavedbearings 10 are secured upon each cross bar 9 under the branches of therespective fork 8, and the said branches are provided with lowerrecesses 11 receiving the bearings 10 and cross bars 9, as suggested inFig. 3, or in other words, the branches of the forks are provided witharched portionsll extending over the bearings 10. Knife edged pivots 12are secured to the branches of the forks 8 at the upper ends of therecesses 11 and seat in the respective underlying bearings 10, wherebythe main levers 7 are fulcrumed upon the cross bars 9 of the frame. The

main levers 7 have relatively long inner arms and relatively short outerarms, it being noted that each main lever has a single inner arm, and apair of outer arms. The outer arms of the levers project between therespective pairs of supports 4: of the platform over the respective rods6.

The outer or remote arms of the main levers 7 carry the rods 6, and tothis end, the outer or remote ends of the levers are provided withupwardly projecting knife edged pivots 13 upon which concaved bearings14 are seated, so as to extend across portions of the lever 7. U-shapedstirrups 15 are ter minally secured to the ends of the bearings 14: andhang below the outer ends or arms of the main levers. It will be evidentthat there are four sets of pivots 13, and accompanying parts, and thatthe four sets are located at the corners of the frame in order that theplatform will be properly supported at all four corners, and with aminimum liability of the platform tilting when the wagon or other objectis pulled or moved thereon. The rods 6 are connected to the 'llO inghooks 17 engaging the stirrups 15, and

the lower ends of the links 16 having hooks 18 engaging the rod 6. Therod 6 is preferably provided with upwardly projecting off sets 18 forthe engagement of the hooks 18,

whereby the links 16 and rods 6 are not liable to become displacedduring the operation of the scale.

The inner or adjacent ends or arms of the main levers 7 are connected toan extension or secondary lever 19 projecting toone side of the frame 1.This extension lever 19 is fulcrumed between its ends to a pair ofstandards 20 carried by a crosspiece 21 terminally secured to the sidesof the frame 1 below the adjacent ends of the levers 7. The inner endofthe lever 19-.lies below the inner ends of the levers 7, andthe outerend or arm of the lever 19 vprojects beyond one side of the frame 1 andis connected tolthe lower end of the link 22. The link 22'is connectedat its upper end to the usual: scale beam (not shown),wherebythemovement of the levers 7 and 19 is transmitted to;the scalebeam in the usual manner for indicating the weight of the objectsupported upon the platform. Since the scale beam may be of ordinaryconstruction, it is not deemed necessary to illustrate and describe thesame in detail, it being evident that various scale beams may beemployed with equal; .propriety and success. The inner end of theextension lever 19 is provided with a fork 23 whose branches lie belowthe respective inner arms of the main levers 7,. and a knife edged crossbar or pivot 24 is terminally secured to the branches of the fork 23 andlies below the inner ends of the levers 7 In order to connect theadjacent IOI' inner ends of the levers 7 and 19, a pair of hangers 25 isemployed, the same having hooks 26 at their lower ends formingbearingsin whichthe knife edged pivot 24 is seated, and the upper endsof the hangers 25 are provided with angularly extending portions 27pivoted upon the inner ,ends of the main levers, Adjustable clampingbolts 28 are mounted in longitudinalslots 29provided inthe inner oradjacent end portions ofthe levers 7, and are provided withzupperconical heads 31 forming pivots upon which the portions 27 of thehangers 25 are seated. The portions 27 of the hangers are provided withlower notches 32 for the engagement of the pivot heads 31. It willbenotedat this point, that the bolts 28 may be adjusted longitudinallyrelative to the main levers 7, whereby the proper ratio of movementbetween the main and extension levers is readily obtained, the hangers25 being readily movable with the bolts or adjustablemembers 28.

In order to hold theiplatform 2 against longitudinal and lateralmovement, but to enable the same to move upwardly and downwardly,- links33 are terminally engaged to eye screws or other bearings 34 secured tothe stringers 3 and cross bars 9.

Links 35 also connect the branches of the forks 8 of the main levers 7and the cross bars 9' forpreventing the main levers from shiftingtransversely upon the bearings 10.

In operation,...when the wagon or other object is moved onto andsupported by the platform 2, the weight of the object will betransmitted to the-supports of the platform which are carried. by therods 6. The rods 6 at the opposite ends will therefore receive theweight of the object, and the-rods 6 being hung fromwthe outer or remotearms of the main levers will swing the said arms downwardly, and thiswill raise the adjacenttarms of the'main levers. The upward movementofthe adjacent arms of the main levers will be transmitted toithe innerarm of the extension lever 19, and as a result the outer-arm of theextension lever will be moved downwardly to pull the link 22 downwardlyfor actuating the scale beam in the usual: manner. The presentconstruction is such that it will operate efi'ectively, and is notliableto become frozen or clogged up. The present scale is sensitive inoperation, wherebythe object may be weighed accuratelyor with precision.The'platform is :not liable totiltwhen the wagon or other object is run.or moved thereon, and the weight of the-object-will be properlytransmitted to the mainalevers even though the object is placed at anypoint upon theplatform. Theadvantages of the various structuralfeaturesof the invention are thought to be-obvious without lengthy descriptionbeing necessary.-

The present scale maybe adapted for various uses, that is, it. may beconstructed-in various sizes and proportions for use as a platformscale, counter scale and the like.

In Fig. 4, there is illustrated a modified means of supportingtheplatform 2 from the main levers; In this view, asingle outer arm ofone main; lever is illustrated, although it: is tobe understood thattheconnectionbetween said arm and platform'may be employed at allfourcorners of the structure. In this form, the supports 4, rods 6 and links16 are eliminated, and depending rods 4 are attached to the ends of thestringers 3, and are providedat their lower ends with upturnedhooks 17engaging the stirrups 15. The rods 4 whichserve as supports for theframe 1, are located adjacent the ends of the branches of the forks 8,and the hooks 17 project inwardly and upwardly to engage the stirrups15. It will be evidentthat the weightimposed-upon the platform will betransmitted 1 by the rods or supports 4 directly to the stirrups 15.

' In either form of the invention, the various parts of the inventionare adapted to oscillate or vibrate properly relative to one anotherduring the weighing operation, and in order that the strains may beproperly transmitted from the platform to the scale beam operating link22.

Particular attention is directed to the fact that the vital parts of thepresent mechanism are protected, so that they are not liable to befrozen or otherwise impaired.

It will be understood that when the invention is embodied in counter andother scales appropriate changes in details may be made, within thescope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

In a scale, a pair of main levers having adjacent and remote arms, aplatform supported by the remote arms of the main levers, an extensionlever having a fork below the adjacent arms of the main levers, a pivotmember carried by said fork, longitudinally adjustable pivot memberscarried by the adjacent arms of the main levers, and hangers havingportions at their upper ends engaged upon the pivot members of the mainlevers and having bearing portions at their lower ends receiving thepivot member of the extension lever.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES DAVID FRYE.

WVitnesses:

F. S. Woons, JAMES B. CAMPBELL.

copies or this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe "commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G."

